Feel the sand. Touch the stars.

        Bruneau Dunes State Park is located in Mountain Home on the southern margin of the Snake River Plain. The park offers breathtaking views, gorgeous hiking trails, an impressive observatory, and many other options for family activities. This spring, take some time to explore the beauty of the dunes with your family!

The Dunes
        Eagle Cove, the main part of the park, is a horseshoe-shaped basin about 3.5 miles across. The Bruneau Dunes, also referred to as “Idaho’s Sahara,” cover about 600 acres and rise 470 feet above the desert floor. Most of the sand from the dunes came from the Bonneville Flood, which occurred about 14,500 years ago. 

Campgrounds
        The park offers options for tent camping, trailer camping, and an equestrian facility. Broken Wheel Campground, the main camp area, has hookups for electricity and water, showers, covered shelters, and fire pits. Eagle Cove Campground offers many of the same amenities, but is designed for RV camping. Two horse corrals allow a safe place for horses to rest and cabins are also available to rent near the campgrounds.

Fishing
        Since 1950, two small lakes have formed beside the dunes. They are popular for fishing. A boat dock provides access to the 300 acres of water, so fishing can be done via canoes, rafts, or floats.

Wildlife
        Early mornings and late evenings are the best time to spot the park’s wildlife, since most are nocturnal. Some of the park’s inhabitants include lizards, rabbits, owls, hawks, and eagles. In the fall, many migrating birds stop by the park to rest. Hunting is not allowed in the park.

Hiking
        There is plenty of hiking to do around the park and the dunes. The Little Lake Interpretive Trail takes about an hour and circles Little Dune Lake. If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, there is a six-mile, self-guided hiking trail that follows a circular path in desert terrain. The hike takes approximately three to six hours and is moderately strenuous on top of the sand dunes. The nine-mile horseback riding trail is perfect for taking a relaxing journey around the park.

Observatory
        The Bruneau Dunes Observatory has one of the largest public telescopes in the Pacific Northwest. The main telescope, called “The Obsession,” is a custom-made 25-inch reflector. Several smaller viewing devices are set up outside as well. The observatory presentation begins at dusk every Friday and Saturday from mid-March through mid-October. Group reservations can be made for 15 or more people.

        Bruneau Dunes State Park offers a variety of outdoor activities for families to enjoy. Spend the day, stay the night, or camp for the weekend!

        For more information about the dunes, visit the website or stop by the park’s visitor center, which also has information on birds of prey, insects, fossils, and wildlife. 

Janelle DiOrio is a freelance writer in Meridian who enjoys hiking in her spare time.